Theft suspect gets in pickle
CONCORD TWP — A repeat shoplifter finds herself in a pickle following her latest arrest last week.
That “bulge” under Jolena E. Harbison's clothing at Slater's Meats and More in Concord Township turned out to be a jar of pickles, state police said.
But things only got worse when she was taken to the Butler County Prison. While being searched, a suspected drug-smoking pipe fell out from her clothing.
A five-time convicted shoplifter, Harbison, 39, of Parker on Tuesday waived her preliminary hearing in the theft-related case before District Judge Lewis Stoughton.
She is charged with a felony count of retail theft as well as public drunkenness. She is being held in the Butler County Prison on $15,000 bail.
Also on Tuesday, state police charged her with possession of drug paraphernalia and disorderly conduct stemming from the incident at the prison.
Harbison's troubles began Aug. 30 when she allegedly showed up high on drugs at Slater's Meats on Hindman Road, according to court documents.
She caught the attention of employees because she was wearing a heavy winter jacket. She also tried to use several credit cards in the store's automated teller machine.
Police were called and a trooper noticed what he described as a “large bulge” in her coat, documents said. That lump was a jar of pickles she allegedly took from the store.
In her purse, police said, was another store item — an unopened bottle of pop.
She was arrested and taken to the county prison.
Her preliminary hearing in that case was not immediately scheduled.
